About Paul

Paul Abascal's film career began as a motion picture hairstylist where
he worked alongside the industry's biggest actors, directors and cinematographers. Among them Richard Donner, Tony Scott and John McTiernan. His first directing projects were two breakthrough comedy "making of" documentaries for Lethal Weapon 2, and Lethal 3. The second documentary was nominated for a Cable Ace Award.

Following that, Joel Silver and Richard Donner awarded Paul an episode of the HBO series Tales from the Crypt. From there he went on to direct several other television series including, Secret Agent Man for Barry Sonnenfeld, Witchblade, Nash Bridges and later re-teamed with Joel Silver to direct episodes of Freedom and the Strip.

Paul's first feature work came when the Warner/Paramount, co-production of the Mel Gibson film Payback was looking to replace the original director and re-conceive the film's structure and storyline. Paul's work on the film (although uncredited) is considered a big part of the film's $160 million worldwide box office take.

In 2003, Paul directed the 20th Century Fox feature film Paparazzi, Starring Cole Hauser, Tom Sizemore, Dennis Farina and Robin Tunney. The action thriller, done with a $7 million dollar shooting budget, has gone to generate over $50 million dollars in total revenue.

With a keen eye for performance, composition and action, as well as meticulous preparation, Paul is known for putting the money on the screen regardless of how small a budget he's working with.